“God helps those who help themselves.” I heard this often as a child. Many people quoted it as if it was a Bible verse; and if it wasn’t, they thought it should be. This quote is not a Bible verse; in fact, the scriptures reveal how God always makes the first move. He loved us…
Category: Devotional
God’s Love Series: Day 2 – As Much As He Loves Jesus
Sometimes I gauge God’s love for me by the circumstances in my life, or by my warm, fuzzy feelings, or lack thereof. Until one day, “God loves you as much as He loves Jesus,” I heard the preacher say. I couldn’t believe my ears. Blasphemy! I thought. Then the preacher read a Bible verse. “I…
God’s Love Series: Day 1 – Mistaken Identity
I grew up in church, thinking God was an angry old man with a long white beard and an even longer stick, waiting for me to make a mistake so He could give me a whack. I am not sure where this thought originated, but it was lodged in the center of my heart. Perfection…
God’s Love Series: Introduction
I was 6 when my family began regularly attending church. For the last half a century I have read my Bible, visited a plethora of churches, and listened to many Bible teachers. I’ve naturally adopted theologies along the way. Today I am 60. When I was in my 40’s, I noticed my conflicting ideas about…
An UnTroubled Heart
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” (Jesus) John 14:1 (ESV) Popular opinion tells us there is not much we can do if our hearts are troubled. Having a troubled heart is not your fault, bless your heart. This scripture says otherwise. “Let not your hearts be troubled.” If…
Dancing To The Beat Of A Different Drum
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest.Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting…
Looking to Jesus
“Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith…” Hebrews 12:2a (NKJV) Jesus is the Answer to everything. He is where our faith begins and ends. Many things beg for our attention. Something calls to us from every direction. Does anything speak more loudly than our problems? They nag. They yell. Our problems do…
It’s Paid For
“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.” Isaiah 53:5 (AMPC) This verse is full of goodness. We learn how Jesus paid…
True Beauty
“Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted…
The First Place I Look
“Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.” Jeremiah 33:3 (MSG) Whenever we have a problem, need something, or want an answer to a question, what do we do? Call a friend? Read a book? Google? Ask Siri? The…